Skylar Ley of Caro takes down Lake Fenton's Trent Hillger during the third-place match at 171 pounds during the Division 3 state wrestling finals Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Ley won the match on a 6-3 decision, with Hillger finishing fourth after losing his first match on Thursday. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

AUBURN HILLS, MI -- Fourth place isn't exactly the finish you're aiming for at state wrestling finals, but Lake Fenton's Trent Hillger will take it all things considering.

The 171-pound freshman lost his opening-round match Thursday at the Palace of Auburn Hills before rallying to win two matches Friday and two more Saturday morning, setting up a third-place match against last year's state runner-up, Caro's Skylar Ley.

"We just talked about it, when he came in here (Thursday), 171-D3 was probably one of the toughest weight classes in the state," Lake Fenton head coach Vance Corcoran said. "And he just took everybody to the end, beat some top-ranked kids and just lost to the No. 1 guy on some controversial calls."

Hillger, sporting a 57-8 record coming into the tournament, fell to the consolation bracket following a Day 1 loss to Millington freshman Jared Roehl. It came on a 5-1 decision, but Hillger just couldn't get anything going.

He responded Friday with decisive wins, scoring a pin on Benzonia Benzie Central's Jared Middleton and major decision, 10-0, against Gladwin's Richie Mathis.

"I just had to get my head back in the game," Hillger said. "Just forget about that match and keep going."

He had no choice to, with a possible three matches on deck Saturday. A decision win early in the morning, 6-0, over Ben McCann of Midland Bullock Creek set up a rematch with Roehl. An injury forced Roehl to forfeit the match, pushing Hillger into the consolation finals.

Holding a 2-1 lead against Ley in the finals, Hillger fell victim to a second-period takedown, shifting the score and momentum. He struggled out-wrestle Ley the rest of the match, was whistled for a technical violation (interlocking hands) and fell victim to a second takedown in the third to lose 6-3.

"He's really tough on top, and he's really good with the legs," Hillger said of Ley.

Corcoran credited Hillger's work ethic for helping him get through the consolation bracket. A starting linebacker on the Lake Fenton varsity football team, Hillger also attended wrestling practice twice a week in the fall.

"Trent doesn't get tired," Corcoran said. "He's wrestled great all season and really stepped up this weekend, and I'm very proud of him."

Hillger was one of six Lake Fenton wrestlers to place Saturday, including a third-place finish for senior Carson Whaley at 160 pounds.

Senior Andy Donoho will compete for a state title at 171 pounds Saturday night against Dundee's Tye Thompson.

"We couldn't be happier about that," Corcoran said. "This just shows where our program is and where it's headed. We've got a great group of kids, they work their butt off everyday, and this is where it pays off."